Defense Strategies
UK: Lancashire Officer Gets Impressive Award
Lieutenant Commander Nigel Griffiths QGM, Royal Navy was awarded the HMS Collingwood Officer’s Association Sword at the Ceremonial Divisions held at the Fareham base recently. Nigel, 49 was presented the sword by Mr Mike Covington, cousin to Commander Richard Covington Royal Navy who kindly donated
Gulf of Guinea Nations Plan Obangame Express 2014
Gulf of Guinea nations held a planning conference July 23-25 to set in motion objectives and initial concepts for what will be the fourth iteration of Obangame Express, a multinational maritime exercise which is set to take place in spring 2014. Obangame Express, one of four major U.S. Naval Forces
NRP Álvares Cabral Hosts Medal Hand-Over Ceremony
During their recent port visit to Djibouti, the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral held a medal ceremony on board. The ceremony was presided over by the EU NAVFOR Force Commander, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma and the Commanding Officer of NRP Álvares Cabral, Captain Nuno Sobral Do
UK: New EU NAVFOR Deputy Operation Commander
On 19 July 2013, Read Admiral Eric Dupont (French Navy) handed over the role of Deputy Operation Commander (DCOM) of the European Union Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Somalia – Operation Atalanta to Rear Admiral Jean Martens (German Navy). The handover took place at the Operation Headquarters (OHQ) in Nort
Ukraine: Exercise Sea Breeze Draws to a Close
Exercise Sea Breeze 2013, the 16th iteration of the largest annual multinational maritime exercise in the Black Sea, ended July 20, as representatives from the 14 participating partner nations gathered together for the exercise closing ceremony. Naval, air, and land forces from participating countri
EU NAVFOR Welcomes Chinese PLA Navy Counter Piracy Admiral
On Thursday 11 July, Commodore Jorge Novo Palma, who is the Force Commander embarked in the EU Naval Force’s counter piracy flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, welcomed on board Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai and a delegation from the Chinese PLA Navy. Rear Admiral Yuan Yubai commands the Chinese PLA Navy’s coun
EU NAVFOR Helicopter Overflies MV Albedo, FV Naham 3
Last week EU Naval Force confirmed that the Malaysian flagged Motor Vessel, MV Albedo, held by armed pirates in an anchorage close to the Somali coast since November 2010, had sunk in rough seas. Since then EU Naval Force warships and a Maritime Patrol Aircraft have conducted sea and air searches in
NRP Alvares Cabral Conducts Training with Delegations of Djibouti Navy and Djibouti CG
Whilst alongside in Djibouti port, staff from the EU Naval Force (EU NAVFOR) Flagship, NRP Álvares Cabral, and members of the Djiboutian Navy and of the Djiboutian Coast Guard came together on board the Portuguese ship to conduct Local Maritime Capacity Building (LMCB) training to exchange maritime
Kazakhstan Plans to Buy Two Minesweepers from Russia
Kazakhstan is considering buying two ships from the Russian Navy, Interfax-Kazakhstan reports. The ships are project 10750E minesweepers which are designed to provide anti-mine protection of water areas of naval bases and harbours, fairways, and littoral areas of the exclusive economic zone. Kazakhs
SNDC Welcomes HMS Express Crew
Students from Wales University Royal Naval Unit (URNU), currently deployed in the Baltic on board HMS Express, made a visit to the Swedish National Defence College (SNDC) in Stockholm on 9th July. The SNDC is an important organisation for Sweden; it aims to be an instrument for change within the are
Robert Allan Completes Design of New Generation Lifeboats for Canadian Coast Guard
Robert Allan Ltd. has completed the design of a new generation of more capable High Endurance Self-righting Search & Rescue Lifeboats for the Canadian Coast Guard. This new design was developed from the successful similar vessels known as the “Severn” Class operated by the Royal National Lifeboat In
NATO Maritime Air Forces Changes Command
Rear Admiral Thomas Ernst, German Navy, relieved French Navy Rear Admiral Jacques de Solms as NATO’s Commander, Maritime Air (COMMARAIR) and Deputy Chief of Staff Maritime Air for NATO Allied Maritime Command (MARCOM), on Wednesday, 10 July 2013. During his tenure, de Solms led the complex consolida
US, Australian Personnel Prepare for Exercise
More than 27,000 U.S. and Australian personnel are converging in Australia and the Coral Sea in preparation for the amphibious exercise Talisman Saber 2013, to be held off the coast of Australia July 15 through Aug. 6. Talisman Saber is a U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM)-sponsored exercise that trains f
EU Navfor: Malaysian Flagged Motor Vessel MV Albedo Sinks (UPDATE)
EU Naval Force can confirm that the Malaysian flagged Motor Vessel MV Albedo, held by armed pirates at an anchorage close to the Somali Coast, has sunk in rough seas. MV Albedo has been in pirate hands since it was attacked in the Indian Ocean in November 2010, and was in pirate hands when it [&hell